First name or last name

Mert, I wasn't aware of it but found out that the NY Times has obits already in the computer on practically every famous person living. Just in case. That's why we did a few of them a couple of years ago. So the paper is now ready if and when Berra, Rizzuto, Ford, Steinbrenner and a few others leave us.

 

I think the first name was fine. But I'm just curious, Rosie, what is it about your place that Mr. or whatever wouldn't be allowed? A lot of papers do obits that way.

 

Why "Mr." wouldn't have worked. This was not a guy referred to as "Mr." Not even by the school kids. If I would have said Mr. Smith, it would have looked extremely wrong.

SF, it wasn't an obit, just a small tribute at the end of this week's column.

Thanks again, everyone, for your input. I've enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts on this.

 

Casty, I'm pretty sure it's when rather than if. But you never know with Yogi.

 

Hard to believe you weren't aware of that. I actually thought it was common practice.

Here's what has happened occasionally though...an obit ends up running with a deceased person's byline.

Now *that's* freaky.

 

Read Basket Case by Carl Hiassen ... main character writes obits ... talks about keeping them banked ...

 

Yeah, I was making a joke about that because Bill Simmons has ranted on several occasions about how shocked and angry he was when he found out the Herald had a Red Auerbach obit in the can back in the late 80's. Apparently he was so pissed that he deleted it.

 

"I'm the Dude. So that's what you call me. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you're not into the whole brevity thing."